ESE, Inc. Achieves CSIA Registered Member Status

In August, 2005, ESE successfully passed an intensive, independent audit of our business practices and was awarded Registered Member status in the Control and Information Systems Integrator Association (CSIA). The audit process uses the American Consulting Engineers Council's (ACEC) Peer Review program as the basis for the audit. The Registered Member program was developed by the CSIA to simplify the daunting task for end users, OEM's and manufacturers to identify, interview, qualify, evaluate and select the best-qualified System Integration firm.

Companies often take a narrow view of qualifying a System Integrator for a project. For instance, project cost is often the sole variable that companies use to select a System Integrator. This approach ignores many other criteria that should be taken into consideration to ensure a truly professional System Integrator is selected. To ignore these other criteria is to invite disaster. These other criteria are covered in depth during the audit process.

To be named Registered Member, ESE spent several months preparing for the audit process that measured our business activities against benchmarking criteria in seven business areas - General Management, Human Resources, Project Management, Quality Management, Financial Management, Business Development, and Technical Management.

Breakdowns of the significant points that are addressed in-depth in the seven business areas during the audit process are as follows:

1. General Management: Includes Strategic Management, Organizational Structure, Facilities and Equipment, Computer Systems Management, and Loss Prevention.
   
   
2. Human Resources: Includes Office Administration, Recruiting, Employee Development and Retention Programs.
   
   
3. Project Management: Includes Project Planning and Methodologies, Performance, Testing, Commissioning, and Ongoing Support.
   
   
4. Quality Management: Includes Continuous Measurable Improvements, Client Surveys, Customer Service, and Project Execution.
   
   
5. Financial Management: Includes Measurement of Financial Performance, Financial Planning, Billing Procedures, Management of Credit, Expenses, Cash and Purchasing and Security, Project Financial Reporting, and Tax Policy.
   
   
6. Business Development: Includes Organization for Business Development, Business Development Practices, Development of Proposals, Negotiation and Contracting.
   
   
7. Technical Management: Includes Technical Infrastructure, Project Process, Testing, Configuration Management, Reuse Management, and ongoing Technical Training.

For companies planning to hire a system integrator, looking for a Registered Member, quite frankly, takes the guesswork out of being qualified for any given project.

ESE was the 73rd CSIA worldwide member to achieve Registered Member status.

On your next project, demand the best, and accept only companies with CSIA Registered Member status. This achievement guarantees that the System Integrator has reached the highest level of professional and technical excellence.